Drain stopper



June 22, 194s.

fnl [Il Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to Stoppers, and more particularly to a stopper for utilization in closing drain openings and which provides a strainer therefor.

In sinks, basins, laundry trays, etc., it is common practice to provide a drain opening leading to a trap or the like and through which the sink, basin, or tray may be drained. In order to pron vide a stopping element for such trays, basins or sinks, it has been common to utilize a disc of rubber or similar flexible material which, when placed over the drain, will provide a stopper element therefor preventing the draining thereof. When, however, such rubber disc is removed from the position of closing the drain, the drain is fully opened permitting the entire contents of the said sink, basin or tray to pass through the opening. The ultimate result of such operation is to clog the trap or drain pipes necessitating their removal and cleaning out.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a stopper which may be utilized for effectively closing such drains but which also incorporates therein means for straining the water as it is allowed to pass through the drain opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convenient and flexible form of drain closure adapted for closing a drain opening of a sink, basin or tray and which has incorporated therein a straining element and the means for closing the drain passage through the straining element and which is particularly applicable for use in connection with closing drain openings `*and at the same time may be utilized for straining the water to remove foreign matter contained therein preventing the same from passing through the drain and which may then be easily removed from position within the sink, basin or tray, together with the matter that has been strained from the water during the draining process.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred ernbodiment thereof as illustrated in the accom panyng drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a drain stopper embodying my invention.

Figure 2` is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the strainer-stopper element removed therefrom.

Figure 3 is a. top plan view of the strainerstopper removed from Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a drain stopper embodying my invention as illustrating the same in position over the drain opening of a sink, basin or tray.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of modified form of drain stopper embodying my invention.

Figure 6 is a plan View of the strainer element embodied in the modification of Figure 5.

In the drawings I have illustrated the drain stopper embodying my invention as adapted for closing a drain I formed in the bottom 2 of a basin, sink or tray. The drain opening I is established thro-ugh a flanged sleeve 3, the cylindrical extension of which is passed through the opening formed in the bottom 2 and is held in position by means of a lock ring Il engaging a sealing ring 5. A drain pipe 6 is positioned within the member 3 and ordinarily leads to a trap (not shown).

The drain embodying my invention includes a disc stopper I which may be formed of rubber, plastic or other suitable material which is of a diameter greaterfthan the drain opening 2 formed in the bottom of the basin, sink or tray so as to lie flat upon the surface thereof at its periphery, the weight of the water acting to hold the said disc against the bottom 2 so as to form therewith a, fluid-tight connection. The upper surface B of the disc I is preferably tapered toward the outer periphery so that the disc is relatively thin at its outer edge 9. Within the center of the disc 1 there is formed a drain passage lll in which a suitable form of strainer or screen is mounted.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the strainer is formed by carrying a web II of the material of the stopper across the opening I0 and forming this web with a multiplicity of strainer apertures I2 of suitable size to strain the water as it passes into the drain opening I. The passage I Il is closed by a disc I3 which may likewise be formed of rubber, plastic or oth-er suitable material and seats upon an annular shoulder I4 formed by the extension of the web II across the opening Il). In this manner the disc I3 seats within a recess formed in the upper surface of the stopper disc 1. As illustrated, both the stopper disc 'l and the closure disc I3 may be provided with vertical projections or knobs I5 by which they may be lifted from their positions.

The mode of operation of this structure is that it is placed in the sink basin or tray over the drain opening I and the water used for washing dishes, clothes, or the like, is admitted to the basin, tray or sink, and the washing operation is carried out, the stopper disc 1, together with the closure disc I3, operating to prevent the water from passing through the drain opening l. After the Washing operation has been completed, the closure disc i3 is removed, leaving the stopper disc l in position. through the drain openings I2 and all foreign matter remaining in the Water collects Within the recess formed in the stopper disc 1 upon the surface of the web H. When the Water is completely drained through the opening |the foreign matter which' otherwise' would have' been passed through the drain opening land into the trap may be then removed from the basin, sink or tray by lifting upon the drain stopper disc 1, thereby removing the foreign matter from within the basin, sink or tray. This foreign matter'may be then removed by shaking the-same over a s'uitable disposal can Without requiring thebperator tc collect the material in her `fingers.

The modification illustrated in Figure 5-is.substantially similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 .to 4i, inclusive, except in this modification the passage "Illa formed in the stopper" dis.1a. has mounted.- therein a metallic screen7l-2a Aand this screen may be molded or suitablyr held Within the y passage as' desiredj As illustratedthe screen is.

removable and` is "mounted Yupon anV -annular shoulder l la, formed ,by -proj ectingY this annular shoulder 'into the passage 10a. ."The closure disc "13a is mounted within the recess formed. in'the stopper disc 'la Within the passage' Illa and may., then restlupon the screen 12m! In other respects this-.inodication is substantially similar both in structure .and mode. of operation to that seit forth in vconnection with "the l modi'cation illustrated in Figures 1 to 4,.inclus'ive.

:Having fully clescribedmyinvention, itis to be understood that I do not wish to be limited'to'the details herein set forth, but my inventionl is of the full scope oftheappended claims.

I claim: 40

1.v A 'drain stopper including aexible substantially flat disc v`adar'itedto be`removablyi's'upported over a drain lopening'in a"sink,"basin.or

opening'. and Vform a seal therewith, 'the drain stopper having a 'centralpassageformedthere- The Water then drains n`adapted to rest on the bottom of asink, b-asin or tray to form a seal therewith, the material of 'said disc being extended as a Web across the passage and having drain openings formed therein, the passage defining a recess above the web, `and' a'stopper disc removably mounted in the recess.

3'.' Adrain stopper consisting of a substantially fiatlexible disc of rubber having a central drain passage formed therein, the disc having a substantially greaterdiameter than thecentralpassage and beingladapted to rest onthe .bottom of a sink', basin or trayto form a sealtherewth, a

straining screen mounted in the passage vbelow .the upper surface `of the stopper disc to define a-recess Within the passage, and a closure disc removably mounted in said recess.

4. A drain stopper comprising a substantially 'hat `rubber disc having a central drain passage formed therein,\the disc having a substantially greaterdiameter than the central passage Land being adapted to rest on the bottom of. a sink,

basin. or tray to form aseal therewith,strainer 'means positioned -in the passage belo-vv the upper surface of-the stopper to' denne a recess Within "the passage, and a closure disc removably mounted in said recess.

." ROBERTL'.' BEHEE.

"` REFERENCESn CITED The-.iollo'vving yreferencesare of record: in' the `leof r this patent:

UNITED "STATES PTEN'ETS rNumber Name f Date V506,872 ChaSe- Oct, `17, 1893 1,796,171 Trotman Q .iMan `10, 41931 

